Facts for Families

Balance for Busy Families

With the start of the school year, many
extracurricular activities have resumed. Sports, dance, theater, clubs….the
list is nearly endless. With the plethora of activities that today's children
are involved in, parents may find themselves rushing their children from one
thing to another with barely a moment to relax and enjoy family time. Children
may be so involved in other activities that school work, friendships, and free
play time suffer. Too much of a good thing can leave both kids and families in
a frenzy, over-scheduled, and stressed. When it comes to extracurricular
activities, parents often wonder, 'how much is too much?'

Often, the problem isn't the activities, it's
too many activities. Packing evenings with activities may lead to fewer and
fewer family dinners and the loss of important time and space to connect as a
family. Parents may experience fatigue and burnout due to the weekly grind of
driving from activity to activity. Over-scheduled children will eventually
begin to show signs of being too busy. They may feel tired, anxious, or even
depressed. Schoolwork may suffer and the child's grades may drop. The child may
even complain of headaches or stomachaches which could be due to stress, missed
meals, or a lack of sleep.

One word may help families avoid this harried
pace of life: balance. Consider taking an "everything in moderation"
approach to activities. While extracurricular activities have many positive
benefits for children, over-scheduling can put children at risk.

Here are a few tips for bringing balance into
extracurricular activities.

Consider activities in moderation and in relation to your child's
abilities, interests, and age. If your child is no longer interested in soccer, what's the point
in running ragged to keep him involved? Give your child a voice in the
activities he participates in. Allowing him to direct his activities will
give you both a sense of meaning and enjoyment.

Be aware of when too much is too much and step back. Carefully observe your child for signs
of over-scheduling. If activities begin to interfere with your child's
life, chances are they are doing too much. Decide as a family which activities
can be cut back.

Keep a family calendar. With family members involved in multiple activities, it is
essential to know who is where and when. Create a calendar for each family
member as well as a general family calendar.

Create and honor family time. Eating on the run may be necessary from time to time, but it is
also important to plan family dinners when you can – even if it means
eating a little later than normal. Be sure to plan family fun time as
well. Connecting as a family is important – even in the hectic pace of
life.

Stick to your priorities. School and school work should be the top priority. If school work
begins to suffer as a result of activities, an activity (or two) may need
to be dropped.

Just say no. If
your child is really excited about adding another activity to her
already overloaded schedule, discuss with her what activity needs to be
dropped to make room for the new activity. Consider carefully what adding
another activity to the schedule would mean for the child and the family and
say "no" if needed.

Provide adequate downtime. Give your child (and you!) ample opportunities for relaxation and
even a chance to blow off steam. Unstructured time is good for developing
independence, imagination, and even just plain old playing. Remembering
the importance of down time can provide everyone with rest and restoration
– preparing all to take on the busy schedule!